Reversible ratchet wrench with handle extension means



Jan; 20, 1959 w. K. PRICHARD REVERSIBLE RATCHET WRENCH WITH HANDLE EXTENSION MEANS Filed .A ug. 30, 1956 INVENTOR.

HTTZF/VEY {and REVERSKBLE RATCHET WRENCH WITH HANDLE EXTENSION MEANS William K. Prichard, Sioux City, lowa Appiication August 30, 1956, Serial No. 607,168

1 Claim. (Cl. 81-177) My invention relates to a socket wrench.

An object of my invention is to provide a socket wrench which is compact in structure and in which the socket portion of the wrench does not extend a substantial distance, to thereby reduce the depth of the head of the wrench.

A further object of my invention is to provide a socket wrench in which a variety of socket sizes and shapes can be accommodated.

A further object of my invention is to provide a handle member which can be locked in any selected position longitudinally.

With these and other objects in view, my invention consists in the construction, arrangement, and combination of the various parts of my device, whereby the objects contemplated are attained, as hereinafter more fully set forth, pointed out in my claims, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure l is a plan view of the wrench, with fragmentary sections being taken thereof,

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken substantially along the lines 22 of Figure 1,

Figure 3 is an elevation of the socket itself, and

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken along the lines 4-4 of Figure 1.

My invention contemplates the provision of a socket wrench in which the socket portions are enclosed practically completely within the head of the wrench, thereby eliminating the cumbersome extending socket portion, and also reducing the depth of the head so that the head of the wrench can be accommodated in locations wherein the space requirements are limited; and to render the wrench more compact. My invention also contemplates an extensible handle member wherein the handle can be shortened or lengthened as desired.

I have used the character to designate a round rod for providing the major handle portion of the wrench, and extending integrally from the member 10 is the portion 11 having the cavity 12.

Enclosed within the cavity 12 is the ring shaped member 13 having the extending teeth 14 which teeth are adapted to provide a ratchet arrangement. The pawls 15 are attached to the collar 16, which collar 16 is journalled on a vertical pin 17 which pin 17 is journalled within the cavity part 18 (see Figure 4) and attached to the member 17 and the collar 16, is a helical torsion spring 19. Attached to the pin 17 is a small lever 20 which is frictionally engaged with a portion of the member 10.

The circular member 13 includes the equally spaced vertical channels 21.

The character 22 designates a socket member having the extended ribs 23, which are adapted to be received within the channels 21, the member 22 including the hexagonal cavity 24, or any other cavity corresponding to the type of nut which is to be used. The member 22 includes the further portions 25 and 26, and further includes a semi-spherical cavity 27 which is adapted to nite States Patent W 2,869,410 Patented Jan. 20, 1959 receive the small ball 28 which is secured within the member 13, and includes the small spring 29 bearing thereagainst.

A plate 30 having the annular opening 31 can be used to secure the ratchet portion of the arrangement.

A transverse opening 32 is provided at the end of the member 10 which opening receives the pair of small hardened steel balls 33 between which bears the helical compression spring 34. Receiving the end of the rod 10 is the hollow cylindrical portion 35 having the annular grooves 36 which grooves are adapted to receive and conform to the balls 33.

In using the wrench, either pawl 15 is employed depending upon whether the nut is to be tightened or loosened, the pawls being moved to either position by means of the lever 20, this arrangement providing a ratchet operation in combination with the teeth 14. It should be specifically understood however, that any other type of ratchet could be employed.

The exterior part of the member 22 will be the same for all of the various sizes and shapes. However, the part 24 will vary in size and shape according to the nut to be turned, it being noted that any of the socket members 22 can be inserted within the member 13 and locked therein by means of the ball 28 and the grooves 21 and ribs 23.

It will be noted that by virtue of the arrangement, the socket part will extend a very slight distance only from the head of the tool since the interior portion of the head will receive practically all of the socket thereby eliminating the objectionable feature of that type of socket which 7 extends a substantial distance from the tool, it being also noted that the tool can be used on the nut from either side if desired; and in some cases the tool can be used to turn members of substantial length, since the part 24 is unrestricted at both the top and bottom thereof.

The handle member 35 can be extended in the direction of the arrow 37, whereby the balls 33 will snap into any one of the grooves 36, thereby providing an arrangement in which the effective length of the operating handle can be adjusted if desired.

It will now be noted that I have provided the advantages mentioned in the objects of my invention, with further advantages being readily apparent.

Some changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of the parts of my invention without departing from the real spirit and purpose of my invention, and it is my intention to cover by my claims any modified forms of structure which may be reasonably included within their scope.

I claim as my invention:

A reversible ratchet wrench comprising a head member, a handle member, and a socket unit, a substantial part of said socket unit being received within said head member; a handle extension member slidably engaging the outer end of said handle member, means for locking said extension member to said handle member in selected positions, including spring urged ball members positioned in said handle member, annular grooves in said handle extension member ,for receiving said balls, said grooves being spaced along said handle member.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 470,954 Sinclair Mar. 15, 1892 668,545 Sayers Feb. 19, 1901 752,510 Berryman Feb. 16, 1904 950,675 Perussina Mar. 1, 1910 1,053,703 Bonine Feb. 18, 1913 2,051,953 Leatherson Aug. 25, 1936 2,438,633 Condor Mar. 30, 1948 2,592,978 Trimboli Apr. 15, 1952 

